Shadow of the Thin Man

Released Nov 21, 1941

1h 37m

Comedy

Drama

List

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

78%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

In San Francisco, retired Detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his attractive wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), learn from police Lt. Abrams of the murder of a race jockey, but Nick refuses to get involved. Approached later by athletics commission head Maj. Jason Scully and reporter Paul Clarke (Barry Nelson), Nick still declines to investigate. When another reporter is murdered and Paul is arrested, Nick gives way to Nora's plea and, with their fox terrier Asta, sets out to solve the murders.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Shadow of the Thin Man reminds us that, despite six films in the Thin Man series, it’s the consistency and enduring quality of these elements that kept contemporary audiences coming back for more.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 15, 2022

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

It's more focused on the mystery than its predecessor, which keeps the action more engaging, and the comedy is sharper - although at this point they're basically repeating all the same jokes.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 29, 2021

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The best element of the entire series remains the love between Nick and Nora Charles - the actors' chemistry is intoxicating, and their flirtatious banter never fails to delight.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 21, 2021

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Rated: 4/5

Mar 8, 2008

Full Review

Michael Szymanski

Zap2it.com

Rated: 3/5

Oct 15, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 4/5

Aug 17, 2005

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nick s

A little too stagey for me. The actors sounded like they were delivering lines at each other rather than communicating. The humour was shoehorned in and wasn't terribly amusing. It did have some good production value, but overall a slog to watch.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

Full Review

Joel H

I don't know how they did it, but the Thin Man film series is still going strong four movies in. Shadow of the Thin Man is another enjoyable journey with Nick & Nora Charles. And, once again, the mystery is entertaining, but the real amusement comes from the interactions between William Powell and Myrna Loy. Their on-screen relationship is the main reason why I keep watching these movies. I was also impressed by Stella Adler's performance and it was fun to see Donna Reed in a supporting role. I still think the first film is the best, but I'm excited to watch the final two movies the Thin Man franchise.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

acsdoug D

I didn't care much for this one. It's played more for laughs and cuteness than an actual murder mystery.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

Full Review

Russ G

As is usual with these Hollywood whodunnit's, there are too many suspects and plot twists to expect the viewer to keep up, but that's hardly the point. Mr. Powell is debonair, Miss Loy is lovely in her sharp suits, stylish hats, and gowns, and the supporting cast is competent. However, the REAL star of this is Astra! Oh, Donna Reed appears in a supporting role but she'd be on to bigger and better things within a year or two.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

matthew d

A fun mystery with Nick, Nora, and Asta again! Director W.S. Van Dyke's romantic-comedy mystery Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) is a wonderful film noir with a complex mystery that really intrigued me. I of course love Nick and Nora's dynamic the best with excellent acting again from William Powell and Myrna Loy. Seeing them raise a precocious child like his mother is quite fun! An early supporting role from a young Donna Reed is here too! Van Dyke uses the shadowy film noir direction to tell his tale of crime involving bookies in horse races and an unfortunate jockey. There's incredible bits like the midnight murder or the seafood restaurant brawl. I love how Van Dyke keeps jokes going like every crook and cop introducing themselves happily to Nick to new jokes like the turtle race. Shadow of the Thin Man is one of the strongest sequels to The Thin Man. Writers Irving Brecher and Harry Kurnitz create a neat murder of a jockey and a bookie that interwine. Using a fake murder to lure a real murderer is a neat twist plan from Nick. I love the caring and playful relationship between Nick and Nora. Their lavish lifestyle of endless vacations is ideal, but the real adorable part is how they joke with each other so casually. The neat mystery is a bonus to all the fun marriage bits with Nick and Nora. They come up with outrageous joke after joke too! The sea bass joke at the sea food restaurant is hilarious and silly like Asta running after every suspect or Nick holding onto the key necklace. William Powell's charming detective Nick Charles still has a drink in hand and a love in his heart for Nora. Powell's nonchalance as Nick makes him so endearing and cool. He easily finds clues and figures out murder mysteries. His sarcastic questioning and love of gambling is really fun this time. Myrna Loy is gorgeous enough to be a femme fatale, yet she's really just the sweetest wife in movie history. Her curiosity about the mystery is always a pleasure as is her love of teasing Nick. Her brave gun jumping is shocking and makes her a real heroine. Barry Nelson is great as the suspicious crooked reporter Paul Clarke trying to get dirt on others to get himself off. Donna Reed is adorable as the two-faced femme fatale Molly Ford. Sam Levene is a riot as the impatient and angry policeman Lieutenant Abrams. Henry O'Neill is great as Major Jason I. Sculley. Alan Baxter is eerie as the blackmailer Whitey. Richard Hall is quite the great child actor as Nick Jr. as he takes after his mother. Stella Adler is sultry and charming as Claire Porter to hide her shady past. Skippy is very astute and playful as Asta the dog once more. Asta being afraid of a little black kitten is so cute. I love how Asta sneaks around and gets sick on the merry-go-round. I liked him hiding during the final confrontation under a fur rug. Robert Kern's quick editing keeps Shadow of the Thin Man moving fast for a brisk 97 minutes. Cinematographer William H. Daniels uses shadows and moody lighting for a real film noir aesthetic. His close-up shots of Myrna Loy and Asta are adorable. I like how his camera pans alongside Powell searching places for clues and as he breaks down the case. Cedric Gibbons' art direction brings expensive apartments and shady bookie offices to life. Edwin B. Willis' set decoration has charming furniture for Nick and Nora's vacation hotel, while the bookie place has papers everywhere. Composer David Snell brings these scenes to life with gentle whimsy for the comedy sequences and energetic symphonies for the action and mystery scenes. Costume designer Robert Kalloch gave Myrna Loy gorgeous dresses and one ugly hat that's the butt of several jokes. Kalloch creates elegant dresses, nightgowns, and even suits for Myrna Loy and Donna Reed. In all, Shadow of the Thin Man is a blast and a high speed sequel to The Thin Man.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The movie starts with Nick having his son Ricky on a leash, who in turn has Asta on a leash, and later Nick and Nora go to the horse races...and a jockey involved in a race-fixing racket is shot. Nick and Nora duck out when asked to get involved, but upon going to a wrestling match, another man is shot, and they accept when asked to take part in the investigation. There are obvious racketeers involved, but also corrupt newspaper people, so who's been doing the killing? The Ricky scenes are fun, especially when Nick is forced to drink a glass of milk, but otherwise the movie is rather dull, and the story itself has rather serious holes in it, such as a gun shooting after falling into a drain. The resolution is even worse, when you think about it. Fortunately the fifth one is better.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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W. S. Van Dyke II

Director

William Powell

Nick Charles

Myrna Loy

Nora Charles

Barry Nelson

Paul Clarke

Donna Reed

Molly Ford

Sam Levene

Lieutenant Abrams

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Synopsis

In San Francisco, retired Detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his attractive wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), learn from police Lt. Abrams of the murder of a race jockey, but Nick refuses to get involved. Approached later by athletics commission head Maj. Jason Scully and reporter Paul Clarke (Barry Nelson), Nick still declines to investigate. When another reporter is murdered and Paul is arrested, Nick gives way to Nora's plea and, with their fox terrier Asta, sets out to solve the murders.

Director: W. S. Van Dyke II
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 1941, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 37m

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